Police back father for dobbing in driver

Whangarei police are praising the actions of a father who dobbed in his ex-partner as she was allegedly driving extremely drunk with their children in the car.

Senior Constable Paul Nicholas said the woman was later stopped and was found to have more than 2 times the legal alcohol limit.

Mr Nicholas said police received a call around 5pm on Sunday from the man to report that his ex-partner had driven off from his home with their children in the car.

The man was concerned that the woman had been drinking and had allegedly consumed up to a bottle of whisky before taking off with the kids, Mr Nicholas said.

The man followed in his car and police stopped the woman about 5.10pm on Riverside Dr, as she was heading to her Onerahi home.

Mr Nicholas said the woman was given a test which revealed a level of 1007 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and above is 400mcg.

He said the father of the children was also tested and as he was sober the children were passed into his care while the mother was arrested and charged with driving with excess breath alcohol. Her driving licence was also suspended for 28 days.

Mr Nicholas said the father deserved credit for doing the responsible thing and contacting police with his concerns over the woman's level of intoxication while driving their children.

A 40-year-old woman from Onerahi is to appear in Whangarei District Court today charged with driving with excess breath-alcohol.